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SLUG: 2-298254 U-N/Korea (L-O)
DATE: NOTE NUMBER: |
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DATE=01/10/03 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=UN/KOREA (L-Only) NUMBER=2-298254 BYLINE=JAMES DONAHOWER DATELINE=NEW YORK CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: The U-N Security Council has decided to meet next week to discuss North Korea's withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. James Donahower reports from the United Nations, North Korea's United Nations ambassador warned Friday that any U-N sanctions imposed on Pyongyang would be considered "a declaration of war." TEXT: North Korean Ambassador Pak Gil Yon says his country is withdrawing from the global nuclear arms control pact because of what he calls the United States' hostile policy toward North Korea. Ambassador Pak accused the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U-N's nuclear watch dog, of being a tool of the United States. The agency has called on North Korea to allow the return of U-N nuclear inspectors, who were recently expelled from the country. The president of the U-N Security Council, Jean-Marc de la Sabliere, said he could not say what the Security Council's response might be to North Korea's move -- outlined in a letter. /// SABLIERE ACT /// This letter, I received this morning, so I just circulated it in the Council. It has not been discussed yet. Consultations on the letter will take place sometime next week. So, I cannot tell you more as President of the Council because there has been no discussion. /// END ACT /// Ambassador Pak warned the U-N against imposing sanctions against North Korea. /// PAK ACT /// Any kind of sanctions, to be taken by the Security Council, or anywhere, will be considered as a declaration of war against the D-P-R-K. This is our position. /// END ACT /// Mr. Pak reiterated the North Korean position that the United States is to blame for the current tensions. Citing Washington's inclusion of North Korea in an "axis of evil," with Iraq and Iran, he said the United States must alter what he called its hostile approach to North Korea, if it hopes to find a diplomatic solution. He dismissed the recent U-S offer to open talks with North Korea, but not to negotiate, as insincere. /// SECOND PAK ACT /// The United States now says that, 'we may talk to you on how to comply with the international obligations, but we will not negotiate with you.' I think this is not a sincere attitude of the negotiators. /// END ACT /// In Washington, officials expressed "serious concern" about North Korea's withdrawal from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, but said President Bush has no hostile intentions toward North Korea, and seeks a peaceful, multilateral solution to the crisis. Ambassador Pak says North Korea intends to use its nuclear capacity for peaceful means such as the production of electricity. Future developments, he says, "will entirely depend on the attitude of the United States." (Signed) NEB/NYC/JAD/BJS/TW/FC |
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